Pediatric Vitreo-Retinal Disease

Beaumont has one of the largest Pediatric Retinal Services program in the country. Our ophthalmology team performs procedures on children who are suffering from a range of congenital retinal diseases that can compromise sight. Nearly 100 infants and children undergo these types of procedures at Beaumont Children's Hospital annually.

Newborns with suspected retinopathy of prematurity come from across the country and around the world to receive vision-saving surgery from Beaumont Children's Hospital specialists. Nearly 75 percent of children who have the surgery at Beaumont Children's Hospital are from outside of Michigan, and half of those patients are from other countries. They benefit from the highly skilled care provided in our 64-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which is staffed by eight board-certified neonatologists and a team of 100 specially trained, neonatal intensive care registered nurses.

Premature newborns who develop eye problems do not have symptoms, so the diagnosis depends on examination of the back of the eyes by a specially trained ophthalmologist. Treatment consists of laser applications to the outermost portions of the retina to stop abnormal growth of blood vessels and decrease the risk of retinal detachment and vision loss.

Eye examinations are repeated every one to two weeks until growth of the blood vessels in the retina is complete. Infants who develop severe retinopathy must have eye exams yearly for the rest of their lives.

The world-renowned ophthalmologists from the Beaumont Eye Institute perform eye surgeries in two specially designed suites at the Ghesquiere Family Center for Children's Surgery, which enhances the safety of children by meeting their unique physical, emotional and social needs. Specially trained pediatric anesthesiologists, nurses and surgical staff assist.